ZIM signs up with Alibaba

The Israeli ocean carrier signed up with Alibaba to allow customers of the e-commerce site to book space on its vessels, Reuters reported.    ZIM is the latest ocean carrier to sign up with Alibaba to allow customers of the e-commerce site to book space on its vessels, Reuters reported.
   Other carriers such as CMA CGM and Maersk Line have made similar agreements with Alibaba this year. The service is offered through Alibaba’s OneTouch website.
   Alibaba has also reached a deal this year with freight forwarder network WCA.
   Alibaba has a history of cooperating with forwarding and logistics companies that goes back several years. For example, back in 2014, it partnered with China Shipping Container Lines to establish an integrated logistics platform.
   “Over the last seven months, Alibaba Group’s international B2B site has announced partnerships with UPS and FedEx for express delivery, Maersk for container shipments, and DHL and Kuehne + Nagel for airfreight, among others, significantly boosting cross-border logistics options available online through Alibaba.com.” according to an article on Alibaba’s Alizila site posted Feb. 7. “Currently, there are more than 100 logistics companies and 1,700 freight forwarders offering their services through Alibaba.com, which has an international membership base predominantly made up of Chinese manufacturers and suppliers selling globally.”